The mingling session ended, and the air shifted. The earlier lighthearted vibe vanished, replaced by a taut, predatory tension. Eyes locked, each sizing up the other like hunters stalking prey. I'm probably no different, my gaze just as sharp.
Announcer: "That concludes our meet-and-greet! All competing Uma Musume, please stand by until the race begins!"
"Hachiman," I said, "let's hold a strategy meeting."
"Right," he said. "Back to the waiting room, then."
"Why are they here?" Hachiman asked, eyeing our guests.
"Didn't I say?" Man o' War said. "I'm here to cheer for you and your Uma Musume. That's why I'm here!"
"Master," Secretariat said, "that's not much of an explanation. Clear, though."
"Air Groove," Hachiman said, "you've got two legendary seniors rooting for you. Don't overthink it."
"I'm fine," I said. "I'm calm. We've trained for this day, Hachiman. My confidence in winning far outweighs any fear of losing."
"Good," he said. "Here's the plan. Stick close to the leaders, marking them. The pace won't be too fast this time. Get to third or fourth early on. That's your spot."
"I've done some research," I said. "There aren't many front-runners in this race, right?"
"Exactly," Hachiman said. "Assume only Tsukuba Symphony will push forward. Track her and settle in third or fourth. If others are ahead, don't force the mark. Most importantly, stay on the outside."
"Got it," I said. "Outside position."
"That's the gist," he said.
"Hmm," Man o' War said. "Solid instructions, detailed and precise. But why the outside, Hachiman? Air Groove's a pacesetter. Wouldn't saving energy on the inside suit her better?"
"Normally, yeah," Hachiman said. "But we only got half the intel we needed, and half of that's shaky. This race will test Air Groove's raw strength, so I'm betting on that."
"The overseas Uma Musume, right?" Secretariat said.
"Yeah," Hachiman said. "We watched their training, but it's not enough. If we can take the initiative, we should."
He's right. There's no true front-runner in this field except Tsukuba Symphony. Positioning myself near the front might be the smartest move.
"Plus," Hachiman added, "it's a bit of a feint."
Secretariat laughed. "You little… I never taught you that."
"Picked it up later," Hachiman said. "Air Groove, it's almost time."
"I'm off, Hachiman," I said.
"Go get 'em," he said.
"Hey, Empress," Pilsudski said, striding up. "Been a bit since the paddock."
"I asked my princess to send you invitations," she said, "but you never accepted. I was a little lonely, you know?"
"My apologies," I said. "I was preparing for today."
"No, no, it's fine!" Pilsudski said. "Your dedication only makes your beauty shine brighter, Empress!" Follow current novᴇls on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹~𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮~𝚗𝚎𝚝
"Uh… thanks…" I said.
Hachiman: "…Her training must be a handful, huh?"
Pilsudski's Trainer: "She can be a lot. It's just her personality, but this is the first time she's been this fixated on an Uma Musume."
"…I see," Hachiman said.
"But this race," Pilsudski said, "I'm taking the win. Not that I want to see your face twisted in defeat, Empress, but it's a race. Our strides decide victory, right?"
"Then let's head to the track!" she said. "Allow me to escort you!"
"No, thank you," I said.
"So aloof, Empress," Pilsudski said. "Fine, I'll go ahead. See you out there, Trainer—and Clairvoyant."
"?" Hachiman tilted his head.
"I'll prove I'm the one who belongs at the Empress's side," Pilsudski said.
"!" My ears twitched.
"Don't get what you mean, so I'm throwing that back," Hachiman said. "Off you go."
"Ha! Catch you later!" Pilsudski said, striding off.
Pilsudski's Trainer: "…Sorry, Highness means no harm. It's just… her personality."
"No worries," Hachiman said. "Air Groove, you'd better—whoa, that's intense."
"!?" Pilsudski's trainer flinched.
"Hachiman," I said, my voice low. "Who's my partner?"
"…Me, right?" he said. "Who else?"
"Exactly," I said. "My one and only irreplaceable partner."
Belongs at my side? I'll crush her so thoroughly she'll never say that again…
"I'm going, Hachiman," I said.
"Knock 'em dead," he said.
The Japan Cup's tension crackles as Air Groove's strategy meeting with Hachiman, backed by legends Secretariat and Man o' War, sharpens her edge. Pilsudski's bold challenge ignites a fire in the Empress, her trust in her Clairvoyant trainer fueling her resolve. The Yahari crossover amplifies their bond—will Air Groove's fury lead to triumph?
📖 Enjoying the story? By joining my , you'll gain early access to new chapters and exclusive content available only to supporters.
🌐 Find me here: pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ
I, Tomoya Aki, Will Not Be a Simp (45 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: Summoning Furina and the Genshin Gang to Reality (33 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd: Stranded in Another World, Surrounded by Valkyries (33 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: I Refused the Path of Betrayal and Chose to Rewrite Fate (66 Chapter)
I Only Wanted to Fix Machines, Not Help Conan Solve Murders (63 Chapter)
One Piece: I Brought Piltover's Tech to the Pirate Era (75 Chapter)
From Diablo to Marvel: The Barbarian Who Crushes All Heroes (96 Chapter)
Resident Evil: Ethan's Epilogue Is a Road Trip With a Dead Girl (65 Chapter)
Date A Live: Kurumi Rebuild (65 Chapter)
Harry Potter: The Lion of the Serpent House (76 Chapter)
I Just Wanted a Quiet Life... So Why Am I an Uma Musume Trainer?! (145 Chapter)
The Irregular at Magic High School: Everyone Loves My Brother?! (130 Chapter)
Runeterra: Prince of Demacia (17 Chapter)
Love is War: What If Kaguya Ha (10 Chapter)
Blue Archive: One Last Memory (36 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.